Crate or box.



No. 696,243,; I Patented Mar. 25,1902;

E. E. JOHNSTON.

CRATE OR BOX.

(Application filed Dec. 12, 1901.)

(No modem wihwooos v V m: norms PETERS 00.. Pumu'mmwumnofon. a c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD E.- JOHNSTON, OF CRIPPLEOREEK, COLORADO.

CRATE OR BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 696,243, dated March25, 1902.

' Application filed December 12, 1901. Serial No. 85,570- (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern: I 1 Be it known that I, EDWARD E. J QHNSTON,a citizen of the United States, residing at Cripplecreek, in the countyof Teller and-State of Colorado, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Crates or Boxes, of-

' for shipping eggs, poultry, butter, and like merchandise; and theobject of my invention is the provision of a box or crate which can beproduced at a minimum cost and which will possess the necessary strengthand durability without being heavy and which can-be easily folded andset up.

With this object in view my invention con sists of a box or crateembodying novel features of construction and combination of parts,substantially as disclosed herein.

Figure 1 represents a perspective View of my box or crate set up. Fig. 2represents a similar view with the parts of the box opened or distended.Fig. 3 represents a perspective view of the box or crate foldedorcollapsed. Fig. 4' represents a vertical transverse sectional view ofthe box when set up; w

Referring by numerals to the drawings, in which similar numerals ofreference denote corresponding parts in the several views, the numeral 1designates the bottom of thebox, which at each end is formed with therecesses 2 andwith the tongues bent to form the sleeves or bearings 3,through which pass the rods 4, having at each endthe loops or eyes 5,which loops or eyes serve to. hinge the front side6 and the rear side.61 to-thebottom, and the top 7 is connected to the rear side by meansof the wire loops 8, aI1d..the front side is formed with a tonguefi),which when the box is built or set up engages a slot or kerf 10 in thetop section,and this connection serves when the tongue is bentdown tolock the partsor sections. 1 The topsection is also provided with slotsor openings 11 to receive the locking-tongues 12 on the vertical endstrips 13, said end strips being connected together by the cross-strips14., riveted to the vertical strips and forming the ends of the box, andthe vertical strips 13 are formed with sleeves or bearings 13,which fitin the recesses formed on the bottom of the box, and said sleevessurround the rods 4 and serve to hinge the -'end pieces to the bottomsection.

From the description and drawings the construction, the manner ofsetting up, and the manner of closing or collapsing my box or crate willbe readily understood, and it will be seen that the parts of the boxwill fold upon the bottom, and when set up the locking-tongue on thefront will fasten in the kerf on the top, and the locking-tongues on theends will also engage the kerfs on the top section, and said tongues arebent down, and thus secure the parts of the box.

It is evident that my box is light in weight, but strong and durable,and can be shipped at a saving, that it is easy to setup and fold, andthat it can be .produced at a low price, thus possessing the features torender it entirely practical.

I claim- 1. A box or crate consisting of the bottom, sides and top allhinged together, said top having aseries of slots, the ends hinged tothe bottom, said ends and front side having locking-tongues to engagethe slots in the top and lock the sections of the box.

2. A box or crate consisting of the bottom having the sleeves orbearings at each end,

the rods passing through said sleeves and having a loop or eye at eachend, the'front and rear sides hinged to the bottom by said loops, theends also hinged to the rods, the top connected to the rear side andhaving a series of slots, and locking-tongues on the ends and front sideto engage said slots in the top for securing the sides and ends when thebox is set up.

3. A'box or crate composed of the bottom having the bent portionsforming bearings, the rods passing through said bearings the front andrear sides hinged to said rods, the locking tongue on the front side,the top hinged to the rear side and having a kerf to receive thelocking-tongue on the front side,

and having kerfs at each" end, and the ends hinged to the rods'andhaving locking-tongues to engage said kerfs on the ends of the top tolock the sections when the box is set up.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

, GEO. M. STINGLEY,

HENRY S. RASSBAOH.

